National Republican., 1887-04-05
DISTINGUISHED vIReINIAN
Gives His Views as to Senator sher.
mana Speech.

A prominent Virginia Democrat, we'll
known in national and state politics and in
the financial circles of the country, was
met yesterday by reporter, and asked to
give his views on the new policy suggested
by the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN and Senator
Sherman's speech at Nashville, and said
~ regard Mr.. Sherman's speech made in
Nashville recently the most adroit, and at
the same time the most dangerous for the
Democratic party that has been delivered
since the war. Questions of tariff and
taxation have not been the controlling ele-
lnents In southern politics for the past
twelve years. The race question has over
shadowed everything else. Proteotlonists
and free traders, war men and peace men,
Union men and secessonists have voted
solidly together against an equally solid
pbalanx OF colored voters-the one to pre-
serve white supremacy, the other under the
inspiration Of patriotic obligation to the
Republican party, to which they attributed
their freedom"
What are the general tariff views in the
adjacent states ?"
"The emancipation OF the colored
vote and the diminution of the
white vote, particularly in North
Carolina and Virginia, would evolve a po-
ltical problem not easy of solution. Taere
hC many lutu Ill Tue DeUOCTHIlC DATJV Ill
both states whose ideas Of tariff AMI taxa
tion more nearly accord with the doctrines
OF protection as held by the Republican
party than with those held by the Demo.
cratic party. The old Wings, and there
are many Of tkem, believe In protection,
and there are many Democrats who do not
90 so far as to indorse an absolute free
trade platform. Whenever this question
becomes vital issue, and the colored vote
splits, It is hard to predict the result.n
"Should the trial come, what then?n
ut has never been tried since the war,
but when 1t is, the result cannot be any.
thing but doubtful. The only question Is
whether the Democratic gain Of colored
votes will be equal TO the Democratic loss
Of white votes. II it is the Democratic
party can hold Its supremacy. Otherwise
not. The strongest free traders are in
New England, among the large mauufac.
turers who have built up their business
under protection laws and do not fear CON-
petition In the south. They have greatly
the advantage under free trade laws-so.
called. But If there is reasonable protec-
tiou given new industries which are spring
ing up in North Carolina, Virginia, aud
Alabama, and Georgia too, the capital OF
the north will seek investments there,
rather than in New England, upon the
business principle that it is much cheaper
to manufacture where you can procure the
raw material at your door, than to pay the
freight charges for transportation some
hundred miles away"
"Are the prospects encouraging for re-
| repeal Of the tobacco tax"
~ do not believe Congress will repeal the
tax on tobacco and whisky. The people,
in my opinion, do not so much object to the
tax as to the manner Of collecting it. They
don't like to see thesa. revenue officers
riding through the country with pistols aud
carbines to collect taxes. 1t is un.Ameri-
can, and smacks Of despotism. If some
means could be devised by which these
| taxes could be collected like state taxes are
collected believe a majority of the people
would be in favor Of taxing whisky and to.
bacco; but so long as they are harrassed by
raids and other Objectionable aud uncivil
attentions on the part Of the revenue off.
GERS, so long will they kick, and they
| ought tor